Shloka 44
Drupada’s Putrakāmeṣṭi: The Sacrificial Birth of Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Kṛṣṇā
वैशम्पायन उवाच पृथयाप्येवमुक्तस्तु प्रणम्यैव वचो<ब्रवीत् | यथा हि रावणो लोके इन्द्रजिच्च महाबल: । वर्ष्णवीर्यसमो लोके विशिष्टश्चाभवं नृषु,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! कुन्तीके यों कहनेपर घटोत्कचने प्रणाम करके ही उनसे कहा--'दादीजी! लोकमें जैसे रावण और मेघनाद बहुत बड़े बलवान थे, उसी प्रकार इस मानव-जगत्में मैं भी उन्हींके समान विशालकाय और महापराक्रमी हूँ; बल्कि उनसे भी बढ़कर हूँ
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pṛthayāpy evam uktas tu praṇamyaiva vaco 'bravīt | yathā hi rāvaṇo loke indrajic ca mahābalaḥ | vṛṣṇavīryasamo loke viśiṣṭaś cābhavaṃ nṛṣu |
Vaiśampāyana disse: Assim interpelado por Pṛthā (Kuntī), ele primeiro se curvou em reverência e então respondeu: “Avó! Assim como Rāvaṇa e Indrajit são afamados no mundo por sua força imensa, assim também sou eu neste reino humano—igual em valor e ainda mais distinto entre os homens.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes humility in conduct (bowing to an elder) with confidence in capability (asserting one’s strength). It suggests that power should be framed within social and ethical decorum—respect first, then speech.
After Kuntī speaks to him, Ghaṭotkaca bows respectfully and replies by proclaiming his extraordinary might, comparing himself to the famed powerful figures Rāvaṇa and Indrajit, and claiming distinction among men.